Pen construction



Aug. 18, 1953 R. 1.. BURCHETT PEN CONSTRUCTION Filed June 6, 1947 INVENTOR- RAY L. BURCHETT.

ATTORNEYS.

R v M Patented Aug. 18, 1953 2,649,074 PEN CONSTRUCTION Ray L. Burchett, East Orange, N. J., assignor to Ronson Art Metal Works, Inc., Newark, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application June 6, 1947, Serial No. 752,864

Claims. (01. 12042.03)

The invention relates to a pen of the ball point type and in one of its aspects has particular reference to the simple and facile assembly and 'disassembly of the main operating parts constituting the pen structure, and the ready substitution of a new supply of ink when needed. In another aspect the invention relates to a novel construction and correlation of parts whereby a nose sleeve may be readily adjusted between positions wherein it respectively exposes and covers the writing tip of the pen. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part specifically referred to in the description hereinafter contained which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, discloses a pen of preferred form which is constructed to operate in accordance with the in vention, but said disclosure should be considered as merely illustrative of the principles of the invention in its broader aspects.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a side view partly in section of a pen constructed to operate in accordance with the invention, the nose sleeve being shown in position to cover the writing tip.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the nose sleeve in position to expose the writing tip.

Fig. 3 is a detail section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a side view showing the main operating parts of the pen in disassembled relation.

The invention is disclosed as applied to a pen having an elongated barrel l which is open at its lower end, and the upper portion of which may be constructed to receive a cigar lighter mechanism. However the cigar lighter (if used) .is not illustrated or described herein, since it may be assumed to be of known or appropriateconstruction and mode of operation. In the illustrated form, an inner tubular shell [is securedto the barrel l at the open bottom end of the latter, and the annular space surrounding the shell 2 is utilized as a fuel chamber for lighting fluid such as is customarily used in cigar lighters, a fuel absorbent ring 4 of felt or the like being located at the upper end of the shell 2 to hold in position the cotton or similar fuel absorbent filling in chamber, and conduct the fuel upwardly to the cigar lighter mechanism.

The ink, which will be of the viscous pasty type customarily used in ball point pens, is contained within an elongated tubular cartridge 5 which is inse rtible ,into and withdrawable from operative position by endwise movement through the open lower end of the barrel. This cartridge 5 may be constructed of any appropriate material, such as transparent or translucent plastic, and throughout most of its length has a friction sliding fit within the inner shell 2. When in operative position, relative angular movement between the ,cartridge 5 on the one hand, and parts I and 2 on the other hand, is restrained by appropriate interconnection. In the illustrated form, the upper end wall 6 of the cartridge is somewhat beveled, and seats against an upper inclined end wall I of shell 2 imposing a restraint against relative angular movement between the parts, which is sufficient for present purposes.

A writing tip member 8, preferably of the ball point type, is secured to the lower end of cartridge '5. This tip member '8 has a feed passage 8a leading from the ink supply to the ball 81), and the above parts need not be described in further detail since they may be assumed to be of known or appropriate construction. A detachable closure 9 having an air vent opening Ill therethrough, is provided at the upper end of cartridge 5, the interior of the cartridge being charged with ink, and preferably a piston-like member H is slidably mounted in the upper portion of the cartridge 5 to confine the ink supply beneath it and apply pressure to the ink, to afford continuity of the ink feed to the writing tip 8. To insure that the vent opening It will be subjected to exterior air pressure, the cartridge 5 may be provided with an exterior groove 5a which runs along its periphery and its upper end wall 6 to the vent opening IE]. If desired a light compression spring l2 may be interposed between the closure 9 and piston l I.

A nose sleeve [3 encloses the writing tip 8 and the lower portion of the cartridge 5, and fits frictionally within the shell 2, in such manner that the nose sleeve is movable both angularly and endwise with respect to the parts of the pen be,- tween which it is interposed. Relative angular movement between the nose sleeve and the remaining parts of the pen assembly causes the nose sleeve to move between the pen tip covering and pen tip exposin positions shown respectively inFigs.1and2.

In the illustrated form of the invention the nose sleeve 13- fits loosely around the lower portion of the cartridge 5, which latter is of somewhat reduced diameter as compared to the upper portion of the cartridge, and the upper end wall M of the nose sleeve is of inclined cam configuration so as to cooperate with an inclined annular cam shoulder 15 on cartridge 5. The configuration shown provides surfaces of at least three diiferent slopes so as to hold the sleeve in its tip position against longitudinal pressure thereon and so as to permit the sleeve to be twisted in either of two directions for the purpose of exposing or covering the writing tip. In the angular position of the parts as shown in Fig. 2, the cam shaped parts l4 and I5 mate to cause nose sleeve [3 to assume the retracted position shown in Fig. 2, which exposes the pen tip 8.

Upon relative twisting movement of the nose sleeve l3 in either direction from the position shown in Fig. 2, the nose sleeve will be projected downwardly to cover the writing tip, as shown in Fig. 1. Further relative twisting permit the nose sleeve to move back to the retracted position shown in Fig. 2, and in adjusting the parts as above described, the user naturally tends to press the nose piece towards the barrel, so that no spring pressure need be provided to hold the parts M and ['5 in engagement.

I prefer to provide the nose sleeve with a tongue or detent l6 which is slidable through a slot [1 in the tip member 8 in one particular relative angular position of the cartridge 5 and nose sleeve l3. In all other angular positions the tongue 16 lies behind the flange I8 on the tip member 8, thus limiting the downward endwise movement of the nose piece relative to the cartridge.

Due to the above described coordination of the parts, the writing unit consisting of the cartridge 5 and the writing tip 8, and the nose sleeve I3, are conjointly removable from operative position by endwise downward movement through the open end of the barrel, and the nose sleeve may be readily detached from the ink cartridge by endwise movement providing detent [6 be alined with the slot IT. This may be done either when the writing unit is in operative position in the barrel, or when detached therefrom. Thus the construction affords ready assembly, detachment and adjustment of the parts by simple operations.

While the invention has been disclosed as embodied in a pen of the above described specific construction, it should be understood that changes may be made therein without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, within the scope of the appended claims.

I'claim:

1. A writing implement of the character described, having an elongated barrel open at its lower end, a writing material holding cartridge having a writing tip member attached to its lower end, said cartridge being enclosed by and held within said barrel and withdrawable endwise through the lower open end of the barrel, said cartridge when in operative position being restrained against angular movement with respect to the barrel, a nose sleeve surrounding said tip member and surrounded by said barrel, said sleeve being movable angularly with respect to both said barrel and cartridge and said sleeve and one of said barrel and cartridge members having relatively inclined parts engaging upon relative angular movement of said sleeve as aforesai'dto move said sleeve longitudinally between tip exposing and tip covering positions and said sleeve also being slidable longitudinally from tip covering to tip exposing positions without angular movement thereof during longitudinal movement thereof.

2. A pen construction of the character described/having an elongated. barrel open at its 4 lower end, said barrel enclosing an ink reservoir, a writing tip member communicating with said ink reservoir and projecting through the open lower end of said barrel, said barrel and tip member being normally restrained against relative angular and longitudinal movement, a nose sleeve surrounding said tip member and surrounded by the lower portion of said barrel, said sleeve being movable both longitudinally and angularly with respect to the barrel and tip member, said sleeve and one of said barrel and reservoir members having relatively inclined parts engageable with each other upon relative angular movement of said "sleeve to move the sleeve longitudinally between tip exposing and tip covering positions and saidsleeve part being disengageable from the other of said parts and being slidable longitudinally in its disengaged position from "tip covering to tip exposing positions without angular movement thereof during longitudinal movement thereof.

3. A writing implement of the character described comprising an elongated barrel open at its lower end, stop means mounted on said barrel and fixed relative thereto, a writing material holding cartridge mounted within said barrel, said cartridge being withdrawable endwise through the lower open end of said barrel and having a writing tip member attached to its lower end and means for engaging said stop means in the operative position of said cartridge within said barrel, a nose sleeve surrounding said tip member and surrounded by said barrel, adjusting means having an inclined surface mounted within said barrel and fixed relative thereto, said sleeve being slidable longitudinally and movable angularly with respect to both said barrel and cartridge and having an inclined surface thereon engageable and meeting with the inclined surface of said adjusting means for moving said sleeve longitudinally between tip exposing and tip covering positions and said inclined surfaces being disengageable from each other thereby permitting longitudinal movement of said sleeve from tip covering to tip exposing positions.

4. A writing implement of the character described comprising an elongated barrel member open at its lower end, a writing material cartridge member enclosed by and held within said barrel member, a writing tip projecting from the open end of said barrel. member, a nose sleeve member surrounding said tip and surrounded by said barrel member, said sleeve member being movable both longitudinally and angularly with respect to said barrel member and said tip, a cam on one of said members having two surfaces of different slope, and means on another of said members adjacent said one member having a surface portion engageable with said cam upon angular movement of said sleeve member to move said sleeve member from tip exposing to tip covering positions, the remainder of the surface of said means being spaced longitudinally from said cam with said sleeve member in said tip covering position.

5. A writing implement of the character described comprising an elongated barrel member open at its lower end, a writing tip projecting from the open end of said barrel member, a nose sleeve member surrounding said tip and surrounded by said barrel member, said sleeve member being movable both longitudinally and angularlywith respectto said barrel member and said tip, one of saidmembers having acam thereon, said cam having a longitudinallyinclined surface,

and the other of said members having a cam engaging surface portion engageable with the inclined surface of said cam upon angular movement of said sleeve member for moving said sleeve member from tip exposing to tip covering positions, and at least a portion of the surface of said other member adjacent said cam engaging surface portion being spaced from said inclined surface with said sleeve member in said tip covering position.

RAY L. BURCHETT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Vierling Mar. 31, 1925 Walker Jan. 5, 1932 Sndden Nov. 21, 1933 Gregg Oct. 22, 1946 Biro Mar. 4, 1947 Randolph Sept. 9, 1947 Randolph Sept. 9, 1947 Reynolds Jan. 27, 1948 Randolph Nov. 16, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Dec. 12, 1907 Great Britain Jan. 19,, 1928 

